'Fame monster' forces Barry John to retire at 27

Saturday 6 January 2007 20.23 EST
First published on Saturday 6 January 2007 20.23 EST

1972, Rhyl, Denbighshire

Barry John was at his peak. The year before the fly-half had taken Wales to the grand slam and helped the Lions to their only series victory in New Zealand. Yet he recoiled when a young girl curtsied to him as he opened an extension to a bank.

'Everyone thought it was wonderful,' he recalled. '[But] if I needed something to show me it had all gone way over the top, that was it.'

John was only 27 when he announced his retirement shortly afterwards, citing the intolerable pressures of 'the fame monster'. Wales had lost one of their great playmakers; rugby had lost 'the King', one of its world stars.